Since the days with intense cold arrived, even shortly before the start of this winter, the demand for firewood has increased to use as a heat source, basically in stoves. That, combined with changes in the value of fuel that affect the cost of freight to bring that wood to Montevideo, had an impact so that firewood is marketed at almost $2,000 more per ton in relation to the value it had at this point last year, according to a survey carried out by The Observer.
Photo: Leonardo Carreno.
Generally, the price of firewood has an annual increase and then stays the same.
1,000 kilos of red eucalyptus chips and rolls cost between $7,900 and $8,500 in firewood barracks in Montevideo, while in 2021 the price was between $6,200 and $6,700.
These two are the most chosen woods to use in wood stoves, the most widely used resource for heating interior spaces in Uruguay after electricitybased on a study by the Ministry of the Environment.
It is estimated that 1,000 kilos of firewood can last a month if the stove is kept on from morning to night; per day about 50 kilos are used if the stove is used in this way, sector operators explained to The Observer.
The pineapples, which are bought to start the fire, did maintain their price compared to last year: a bag is charged from $150 to $250.
Photo: Leonardo Carreno.
Firewood is the second most used source of energy in Uruguayan homes.-
Depending on their storage capacities, there are customers who choose to buy a few kilos, for example loads of 200 kilos, while others prefer to buy in larger quantities to ensure firewood for the winter.
Secondly, forest firewood also rose in price. While last year it sold for about $7,000 per 1,000 kilos, this year it costs between $8,000 and up to $10,000 in some places.. This firewood, it was specified, is the most chosen to light the grill and prepare meals, not for use in stoves.
why did the price go up
Usually the price of firewood has an annual increase and then stays the samethey explained to The Observer from Las Hermanas barracks. With this as a framework, traders generally see a stable price for the coming weeks, although some occasional rise is not ruled out.
Members of another barraca, Los Bosques, explained for their part that this year “more firewood has been sold” and that “it has been sold more evenly.” The demand was early and once the cold began, the purchase of firewood “has not stopped,” they said.
The main factor for the rise in the price of firewood was the increase in freight costs, mainly due to the rise in the price of fuel. It happens that the firewood sold in Montevideo comes from Melo, Fraile Muerto, Artigas, Treinta y Tres, Tacuarembó and Rocha, hundreds of kilometers away.
With the high demand there has also been a drop in supply, mostly wood chips. Some merchants even commented that there are cases of firewood sheds that have stopped their activity due to low stock.
Leonardo Carreno
For firewood to be more efficient, it is important to keep it dry.
An advice
Winter officially began on June 21, but in this 2022 the cold began before that date, moreover, prior to that day two polar wave episodes were recorded throughout the country.
The Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (Inumet) estimated that during this winter the temperatures will remain in the usual range, and even somewhat below the normal average.
Meteorologist Núbel Cisneros, consulted by The Observercommented that this will be a “long and very cold” winter, with a “high average of frosts”.
The also meteorologist Mario Bidegain maintained, on the other hand, that during this season the temperatures will remain at a “normal” average level with respect to other years.
Both meteorologists agreed that this will be a dry winter, with irregular and scarce rains. There will be “rains below normal,” Bidegain said.
In line with this reality, for firewood to be more efficient, it is important to keep it dry, since if it has high levels of water, combustion does not take place correctly, and therefore more smoke and less heat are produced.
A report from the Ministry of the Environment stated that After electricity, firewood is the second most used source of energy in Uruguayan homes.
It also indicated that in 2021, 54% of Uruguayan houses had wood stoves, quematutis or wood boilers.
Photo: Leonardo Carreno.
It is estimated that 1,000 kilos of firewood can last a month if the stove is kept on from morning to night.
